Reconstruction of posttraumatic long bone defect with free vascularized bone graft - Good outcome in 48 patients with 6 years' follow-up

We analyzed our clinical results in 48 patients (40 men) treated during 199 0-1993 with free vascularized bone-graft reconstruction for bone defects, t he follow-up being an average 6 (5-8) years. The bone defects were located in the femur (10), tibia (32), humerus (2), and forearm (4). We performed 4 1 fibula transfers, 4 iliac transfers, and 3 rib transfers in these patient s. 3 patients required early revision surgery due to venous thrombosis. The average time needed for radiographic bone union was 4.2 months. Bone trans fers to the lower extremity showed significantly more hypertrophy than thos e in the upper extremity. The functional outcome was good in 43 patients.